MSU has a lot in common with No. 7 Arizona, the team that poses the most imminent threat to ending the Spartans’ record home winning streak.
The game, at 2 p.m. Dec. 15, will air on CBS and will be dire to the Spartans’ streak that now stands at 48. Arizona leads the MSU-Arizona series 4-0 and a Spartan win would mark Izzo’s first victory over the Wildcats.
“(The similarity) is not quite like everybody thinks,” MSU men’s head basketball coach Tom Izzo said. “You know they lost a lot, we lost a lot. They lost three guys that got drafted and a senior.”
True. Both teams lost many players - six all together - to an NBA draft that just fell short of allowing third graders to trade in the playground’s asphalt for the NBA’s hardwood.
Only two players MSU, Jason Richardson and Zach Randolph, left the banks of the Red Cedar for NBA glory. Arizona, however, came close to losing its entire starting lineup that only hosted one senior, center Loren Woods.
The Wildcats defeated MSU 80-61 in last year’s Final Four with that lineup.
But to head coach Lute Olson’s advantage, junior guard Jason Gardner sidelined his NBA dreams and returned to the Wildcats. Since his return, Gardner has been leading the Wildcats in the first month of play to the top 25 - debuting at No. 8 - with a 3-0 record against ranked opponents.
“He’s their quarterback, he runs them, he’s made the other guards better, and he’s shooting so well right now,” Izzo said.
“Everyone forgets that Gardner was the national freshman of the year over (Duke guard Jason) Williams. Last year he only averaged 10 points because there were so many players on that team, but he’s really good.”
Unlike the Wildcats, MSU has only one returning starter in junior forward Al Anagonye.
But the NBA wasn’t each team’s only antagonist. Graduation also played a factor with each team losing five players to the cap and gown.
MSU graduated Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson, David Thomas, Mike Chappell and Brandon Smith. Arizona lost Woods, Eugene Edgerson, Justin Wessel, Justin Ash and Lamont Frazier.
“I think (graduating players) is extremely important to what people think of your program,” Izzo said. “I also think it just sets an example for the younger kids. I’m sure Lute (Olson) feels the same way.”
But early defections and diplomas have left both teams with little experience and not many scholarships. In fact, MSU plays eight scholarship players and Arizona falls close with nine.
Anagonye and Gardner are each team’s only returning starters.
“We have similar roles as being the leader, but not as players,” Anagonye said of his similarities to Gardner. “Jason does a little more scoring than I do - actually a lot.”
But Anagonye and Gardner both have teammates with game experience who have emerged as team leaders.
Enter MSU sophomore guard Marcus Taylor and Arizona junior forward Luke Walton. Last season both players saw time as key contributors off the bench, but now they have become double figure scorers - 12.6 and 12.8 points per game - for their respective teams.
“We just came over time, now we’re in a starting role and in a position where we have to make a lot of tough plays and decisions,” Taylor said.
In November, Arizona looked like the better team, staying in the top 10 and remaining undefeated. MSU started the season 2-0 before dropping two straight to Syracuse and Fresno State in the Preseason NIT.
But December hasn’t looked as kind to the Wildcats after losing to Kansas 105-97 and battling with No. 5 Illinois on Tuesday.
The Spartans play Florida tonight and have recorded a 2-0 record and a Spartan Coca-Cola Classic championship since their New York flop.
“It’s going to be tough, but they’re coming into our home so it’s going to be a lot tougher on them,” Taylor said. “We have to capitalize on our strong points (to keep the streak alive).”
